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Official implicated in R1.3bn broadband investigation

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 21 Jul 2017
The Joburg Broadband Network aims to connect communities and businesses to more affordable Internet.
The Joburg Broadband Network aims to connect communities and businesses to more affordable Internet.

The City of Joburg has suspended a senior official as a result of the R1.3 billion cost it incurred in taking over the Johannesburg Broadband Network (JBN) project.

In a statement, the COJ confirmed that a senior official from the department of economic development has been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing into allegations of misconduct relating to contracts and payments linked to the JBN project.

The official in question has already been implicated in an independent forensic investigation which recommends corrective action be taken, it says.

According to the COJ, the suspended official refused to allow investigators access to a number of devices which are believed to contain crucial information relating to the investigation.

"Further to the suspension, the city has obtained a court order to create mirror images of the official's devices so as to preserve all information on the devices to ensure that potential key evidence relating to this investigation is not destroyed. The mirror imaging of the devices will be conducted by independent technology experts in the presence of the official and an independent supervising practicing attorney appointed by the court."

Initiated in 2006, the JBN project aims to provide access to broadband services to improve the city's delivery services, realise ICT-related savings, and provide communities and businesses with more affordable Internet.

The contract to build and operate the 900km broadband network was initially awarded to Ericsson SA; however, the city decided to cancel the contract in 2014, and established a municipal-owned entity, the Metropolitan Trade Company, to take over the running of its R1.3 billion broadband network

Under the initial agreement, the city would have paid an annual fee for the building and operation of the network. After 15 years, it would have taken over ownership of the network.

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